Handle for baskets



(No Model.)

W. J. VAN DEUSEN.

' H-ANDLE FOR BASKETS! No. 890,536. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

WITNESSES lharrn rarns Artur triers...

WALTER JAMES VAN DEUSEN, OF \VILLOUGHBY, OHIO.

HANDLE FOR BASKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,536, dated Detober 2, 1 888.

Application filed June 14, 1888. Serial No. 277103. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER JAMES VAN DEUsEN,acitizen ofthe United States,residing at Willoughby,in the county ofLake and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Handles for Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in handles for fruit-baskets; and it consists in the peculiarconstruction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a fruit-basket with a handle which is strong and durable, and which is adapted to be folded into the basket, where it is entirely out of the way, so as to prevent the handle from pr0jecting beyond the upper side of the basket, and thereby enable the basket to be packed in the smallest possible space, to the end that a number of such baskets, when either filled or empty, may be stored ina minimum space and transported from one place to another at the smallest possible cost.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit-basket provided with a handle embodying my improvement, the handle being represented in its normal position in full lines and in its folded position within the basket in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of one of the handle fastenings. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form of my improved basket-handle and the fastening device therefor.

A represents a splint basket, which is of the usual construction, and has its upper edge bound by a pair of bands, B O, which are arranged one on theinner side and the other on the outer side of the basket, as shown, and in the usual manner, the inner band, 13, thereby forming a flange on the inner side of the basket.

Secured to the said inner band, B, at diametrically-opposite points, directly in line with the center of the basket, is a pair of metallic plates, D, the lower ends of which depend for a considerable distance below the band B,and are provided with stops E near their lower corners, which stops are formed integrally with the plates by punching them therefrom from the outer sides of the plates.

In the upper end of each plate B, at the center of the same, is a circular opening, F,

G represents a pair of metallic straps of "suitable length and breadth, each of which is provided at its center with a series of ears, H, which are arranged in a circle and are formed by being punched from the straps G, the said ears passing through the openings F, bearing against the sides of the openings, and having their outer ends clinched or bent outward and bearing against the outer sides of the plates B, the said circular series of cars thereby forming hinges or pivots connecting the straps G with the plates D.

I represents the basket-handle, which is made of wood or other suitable materials, bent in the form of the letter U, and of such a size that it is adapted to be folded Within the up per edge of the basket. The arms of the said handle are secured on the inner sides of the straps G by bending the ends of the said strap around the arms of the handle, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and securing the overlappingends of the strap together and to the handle by means of nails, tacks, rivets, or screws K. The ends of the handle depend from .the straps G for a suitable distance, bear against the inner sides of the plates D, and are adapted to be engaged by the stops E, and thereby maintain the handle in a vertical position,as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. In order to fold the handle within the basket in the position illus trated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to press the lower ends of the plates D outward toward the sides of the basket, so as to cause the stops E to disengage the ends of the handle, and the latter may be then turned on its pivots, as will be readily understood. When thus arranged, the handle is contained entirely within the basket and does not project therefrom in any direction, thus enabling the basket to be confined within the smallest possible space.

In Fig. at I illustrate a modified form of my invention, in which the strap G has. its upper and lower edges folded inward to form ears 9, through which extend the ends of a wire handle, The said ends of the wire handle are provided with outwardly-curved offsets 7c,

which fit in the openings in the straps G and the openings F of the plates D, and the stops at the lower ends of the plates are arranged in such close relation to each other that the space 5 between them is equal only to the diameter of the Wire of which the handle is formed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the resilient plate D, 10 having the stops E near its lower end,with the handle pivotally connected to the said plate, near the upper end of the latter, adapted to turn thereon,and to be engaged by the stops E, for the purpose set forth, substantially as de- 15 scribed.

2. The combination, with the plate D, having the stops E and the opening F, of the strap G, having the ears H arranged in the opening,

and having their outer ends clinched or bent against the outer side of the plate, substanzo tially as described.

3. The combination, with the basket having the inner band or flange,B,at its upper edge,of the plates D, secured to the said flange and depending therefrom, said plates havingstops 25 E and the openings F, the straps G, pivotally secured to the said openings, and the handle secured to the said straps, substantially as described.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my 0 own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER JAMES VAN DEUSEN.

Witnesses:

J. M. PLAISTED, J. B. BROWN. 

